Mark Alexander Wynter-Blyth
Encyclopedia
Mark Alexander Wynter-Blyth (15 August 1906-16 April 1963 Leysin, Switzerland) was an English schoolteacher and amateur naturalist who wrote one of the first field guides to the butterflies of the Indian region. He was also involved in censuses of the Asiatic Lion
at the Gir forest.
Wynter-Blyth was born at Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middlesex, studied at Sedbergh School
, Yorkshire and Magdalene College, Cambridge. He took an interest in nature study while still a student and moved to India in 1936 to become a House Master at Bishop Cotton's School at Shimla
. He later became headmaster of the preparatory school and here his meeting with A E Jones, an amateur lepidopterist, made him interested in butterflies. In 1941 he moved to the Nilgiris to take up a position as headmaster at St. George's School in Ketti. During the war, he was called to service but found unfit for active service and declined a staff appointment. In 1946 he moved to Saurashtra as a private tutor and from 1948 to 1963 till his death, he was the Principal of the Rajkumar College
, a school founded and run by the Princely Order of Kathiawar. He died in Switzerland of coronary thrombosis on April 16, 1963.
His book on the "Butterflies of the Indian region" published by the Bombay Natural History Society
in 1957 was for a long time the only handy guide to butterflies in India.
Asiatic Lion
The Asiatic lion also known as the Indian lion, Persian lion and Eurasian Lion is a subspecies of lion. The only place in the wild where the lion is found is in the Gir Forest of Gujarat, India...
at the Gir forest.
Wynter-Blyth was born at Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middlesex, studied at Sedbergh School
Sedbergh School
Sedbergh School is a boarding school in Sedbergh, Cumbria, for boys and girls aged 13 to 18. Nestled in the Howgill Fells, it is known for sporting sides, such as its Rugby Union 1st XV.-Background:...
, Yorkshire and Magdalene College, Cambridge. He took an interest in nature study while still a student and moved to India in 1936 to become a House Master at Bishop Cotton's School at Shimla
Shimla
Shimla , formerly known as Simla, is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the British Raj in India. A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the "Queen of Hills," a term coined by the British...
. He later became headmaster of the preparatory school and here his meeting with A E Jones, an amateur lepidopterist, made him interested in butterflies. In 1941 he moved to the Nilgiris to take up a position as headmaster at St. George's School in Ketti. During the war, he was called to service but found unfit for active service and declined a staff appointment. In 1946 he moved to Saurashtra as a private tutor and from 1948 to 1963 till his death, he was the Principal of the Rajkumar College
Rajkumar College
Rajkumar College may refer to :-Rajkumar College, RajkotRajkumar College, Raipur...
, a school founded and run by the Princely Order of Kathiawar. He died in Switzerland of coronary thrombosis on April 16, 1963.
His book on the "Butterflies of the Indian region" published by the Bombay Natural History Society
Bombay Natural History Society
The Bombay Natural History Society, founded on 15 September 1883, is one of the largest non-governmental organizations in India engaged in conservation and biodiversity research. It supports many research efforts through grants, and publishes the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. Many...
in 1957 was for a long time the only handy guide to butterflies in India.